Nationalism in a Multicultural Society - 1904 Words

Nationalism is exclusionary by definition. In a well-argued essay, compare the positive and negative effects of nationalism within a multicultural or multiethnic society. In your answer, discuss the problems that a multicultural society poses to the formation of national identity and why you do or do not believe that nationalism is compatible with the liberal state’s emphasis upon individual rights and freedoms. â€Å"The Age of liberal democracy is also the Age of nationalism† (Bernard Yack, 2003) . Throughout history, the relationship between nationalism and the emergence and proliferation of the liberal democratic state has been closely intertwined. Examples of democratic states that rose in tandem with nationalism are the French†¦show more content†¦He carried out genocide on the German Jews in order to create the perfect Aryan race. Hitler successfully turned the Germans against each other based on anti-Semitic ideals. â€Å"From this point of view, nationalism and the politics of ethnic cleansing represent the ‘dark side of democracy’† (Bernard Yack, 2003) . National identity becomes horribly wrong, especially in multinational societies, when people sometimes rank identities hierarchically, leading to the rejection of another nation as inferior. The modernist theories imply that until the beginning of the 19th century, almost no one had more than local loyalties. National identity and unity were originally imposed from above, by European states, because they were necessary to modernize the economy and society. In this theory, nationalist conflicts are an unintended side-effect. â€Å"For state theorists, pervasive loyalty or devotion to the polity is purposefully encouraged through the allocation of services and privileges, with the state adjudicating disputes to bolster unity† (Bernard Yack, 2003) . Ernest Gellner, a philosopher and social anthropologist, argued that nations are a by-product of industrialization. Modernization theorists regard the printing press and capitalism as necessary conditions for nationalism. The greater the group nationalism, the greater the group homogeneity of attitudes, beliefs, language spoken and ways of behaving, the greater is the group cohesiveness. Partly as a result ofShow MoreRela tedIs A Nation Is An Abstruse Procedure?1490 Words   |  6 Pagesimperative to define nationalism, it becomes a convoluted process to determine the meaning of nationalism. Furthermore, nationalism is a human construct, which makes it inconsistent across the world. Different individuals would have different views on the definition of nationalism. When the concept of nationalism is indefinite and obscure, it would inevitably lead to conflict amongst individuals within a nation and foreign to the nation due to a difference in opinion on what nationalism truly is. In theRead MoreThe West Human Rights1445 Words   |  6 Pagesdiversity. Nevertheless, he insisted that the possibility of justifiable modifications must not obscure the fundamental universality of internal human rights norms. The concept of citizenship can be traced back to ancient Greece. In classical Greek societies, the city-state was a public realm for free men to participate in the affairs of the state and act as a collective insurance against external threats and internal conflicts. It should be noted that citizenship in the Greek city-state was an inheritedRead MoreGrade 12 Ontario Students Studying Canadian Literature(U1A6)662 Words   |  3 Pagesand not reflective of our modern multicultural society. As Robertson Davies stated, â€Å"Canada is not going to have a national literature in the mode of those European lands where a long history has bound the people together, and where a homogeneous racial inheritance has given them a language, customs, and even a national dress of their own.†Ã‚  2  We need to look at the work of Canadian authors who have come here from different backgrounds. Connecting with our multicultural student body is really importantRead MoreIs Globalization Diminishi ng The Presence Of Nationalism?1334 Words   |  6 Pages10 December 2014 Is Globalization Diminishing the Presence of Nationalism? As a kid I was taught to question everything and to think for myself. For that reason, I questioned how the world operates. During my time, globalization has been the major factor contributing to changes in our society. We are slowly becoming a close nit network of countries with the common goals of becoming a world superpower, financially rich, and multicultural. The modern world has seen a dramatic increase in globalizationRead MoreThe Indonesian National Awakening1452 Words   |  6 PagesKebangkitan Nasional Indonesia, or the â€Å"Indonesian National Awakening† began in the early Twentieth Century. The success of Indonesia’s budding nationalism belongs to the ability to use existing the institutions, urbanization and transportation around Java and Sumatra, and the â€Å"otherness† of colonization. Initially groups such as Sarekat Islam were founded to fulfill community needs, but shortly morphed into a way for the â€Å"natives† of the Dutch East In dies to unite and organize. Later, students atRead MoreNationalism And Its Impact On National Identity1412 Words   |  6 PagesNationalism can be defined in two dimensions. First, the feeling of having a sense of national identity. This â€Å"national identity† is often confronted with a dilemma as to how to draw the boundaries of what creates a nation. This pre-requisite often comes in the form of either similarities in origin, ethnicity, culture and willingness to partake in the membership of a â€Å"nation†. This is contrasted with the concept of â€Å"states† as states such as the Native American Iroqouis, whom although are a â€Å"nation†Read More Significance of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism Essay2373 Words   |  10 PagesAbove, Gonzà ¡lez challenges traditional forms of Puerto Rican language nationalism which holds the Spanish language as a rallying point for Puerto Rican identity, in direct opposition to the English speaking United States (Morris 162). This philosophy has led to a rejection of the English language by many sectors of the Puerto Rican population. However, upon examination of the historical development of language nationalism in Puerto Rico as a Spanish colony, a nation, and a diasporic communityRead MoreThe Sociolinguistic Situation: Past, Present and Future in Bashkortostan1441 Words   |  6 Pagesin to mind: social, psychological and constitutional, which for Bashkortostan all these aspects seems to be promising. Government supports the institutions dealing with the ethnic and national planning for education and social context. As a multicultural society consisting of different ethnic minorities and ethnic languages, Bashkir politicians and intellectuals consider a full-fledged national education system in Bashkir language as well as a flexible curriculum to serve all the ethnic groups in theRead MoreQuebec s Strong National Identity Essay805 Words   |  4 Pagesacceptation Canada extended to al l cultures, Canada would not be known as the multicultural mosaic it is today. As immigrants move to Canada, many see a better chance for social mobility in the English community, meaning the majority of Quà ©bà ©cois (around 80%) are francophones (â€Å"Ethnic origins, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories 1). If immigrants do choose to live in Quà ©bec, the majority chooses Montrà ©al, the multicultural city, while the rest of Quà ©bec remains dominantly francophone. WhileRead MoreEssay about English Must be the Official Language in America994 Words   |  4 PagesA country’s strength comes solely on the social theory of nationalism, to give loyalty and love for that country even if it means sacrificing ones own life to defend it. Whether its called the homeland, motherland, or holy land, citizens of a country define it, if not, its really just a large mass of land. The United States of America has instituted many rights to its citizens, which were issued in the bill of rights they are the first ten amendments. The first amendment mentions the free exercise